JAMF Software’s latest update to its Casper Suite for Apple device management will make it easy for enterprises to embrace Apple iOS 8 devices into their BYOD programs. JAMF supports deploying and managing eBooks, validating VPN accounts, and even tracking which Apple devices have (or have not) been backed up to the Apple iCloud.

"IT wants control, but many iPad and iPhone users may not want a container on their device."

JAMF Software’s latest update to its Casper Suite for Apple device management will make it easy for enterprises to embrace Apple iOS 8 devices into their BYOD programs. JAMF supports deploying and managing eBooks, validating VPN accounts, and even tracking which Apple devices have (or have not) been backed up to the Apple iCloud.

The Casper Suite offers a wide range of technologies that deliver powerful security compliance for iOS and Android devices without changing the native experience on the user’s device or invading his privacy.

The Casper Suite offers:

Inventory visibility and reporting: Casper Suite provides a big picture of how many devices are on the network, along with data about which ones are eligible for updates. This helps IT make sure devices have the correct operating system and software. It also supports Apple’s iBeacon, allowing admins to manage Apple devices based on geo-location data.

Compatibility with deployment, provisioning: Casper Suite lets IT ensure that any updates for apps and resources will be compatible with the operating system running on the Apple iPhones or iPads, now to include iOS 8. Casper can even deploy the operating system itself to the appropriate users.

Compliance and security: Casper Suite offers rich support for Apple’s native security tools. This enables admins to seamlessly maintain security, even during and after updates, with little disruption.

JAMF CTO Jason Wudi described the idea behind the company’s deep support for Apple device management this way: “IT can adapt and respond to rapid change in their environments, without losing control. Users can take advantage of new technologies from Apple as soon as possible – without the headache.” While IT admins can’t control when Apple operating system updates happen, they can ensure they fully support any Apple device a user might bring in, he added.

JAMF’s BYOD Balance Gives IT Control; Users ‘Native’ Access

A hallmark of Casper Suite technology is the ability to support an enterprise BYOD environment that balances the needs of IT and end users, Tad Johnson, JAMF’s commercial marketing manager, told IDN. “IT wants control but many iPad and iPhone users may not want a container on their device or enroll their personal devices in enterprise [management] systems,” he said.

Since the release of iOS 7, Casper Suite has supported Apple’s “managed apps” feature, he added. This lets IT secure and configure apps without a container – allowing users to work with their Apple devices in their “native” mode, he added. Another benefit to “managed apps” is that data sharing can be restricted to stay between managed apps, and once a device is unenrolled, all that restricted data is removed, Johnson said.

JAMF also delivers easy ways for IT to be sure iPhones and iPad brought in by users have the proper configurations required for using Microsoft Exchange. “For IT to configure Exchange, and secure it with their policies, [they] can do it one device at a time and it might take a few years. Or, we can quickly enroll them with Casper Suite, which does all the management of deployments, as well as configure each device with apps and settings.”

Casper Suite also has ready-to-go integrations with Active Directory, to allow admins to take full advantage of preset user groups and privileges. For inventory management, Casper Suite integrates with Microsoft System Center, so admins can share all their Apple inventory data and share that with System Center to provide admins a single pane of glass for Windows, Mac and mobile devices.

Even as IT admins are confronted with more integrated, full suites for EMM (enterprise mobility management), JAMF continues to see demand for its Apple-centric expertise, Johnson added. “Customers tell us they are looking for expertise in Apple device management, especially a solution like ours that allows users to retain that great Apple experience. So, we’ve built our software in a way to integrate with other IT infrastructure tools,” he said.

JAMF also pointed to a recent BYOD report by Gartner that predicts one in five BYOD programs will fail because of too much restriction on the user. “In short, users want a say in which device they use and are rejecting rigid BYOD management solutions that infringe on their privacy,” JAMF’s Wudi added in a recent press statement.